Positive expiratory pressure device having an oscillating valve

ABSTRACT

A PEP module is provided for producing and transmitting oscillations of expiratory air to the lungs and airways of a user to thereby loosen and mobilize mucus obstructions. The PEP module includes an external device housing having a mouthpiece at a first end thereof and a cover at an opposite second end thereof configured for providing resistance to the airflow of the expiratory air. The PEP module further includes a valve assembly contained within the external housing and disposed medially between the mouthpiece and the cover. The valve assembly includes a valve housing and a valve moveably mounted on the valve housing. The valve rapidly and repeatedly oscillates relative to the valve housing as the user exhales to produce oscillations in the expiratory air that are transmitted to the lungs and airways of the user to loosen and mobilize the mucus obstructions.

This is a continuation of and claims benefits under pending priorapplication Ser. No. 14/640,713 filed 6 Mar. 2015, now U.S. Pat. No.10,004,872, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein pertains generally to respiratory therapydevices, and more particularly pertains to a Positive ExpiratoryPressure (PEP) module having an oscillating valve for enhancing theeffectiveness of respiratory therapy.

BACKGROUND AND DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Many individuals suffer from pulmonary afflictions, such as CysticFibrosis (CF) and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) thatresult in excess mucus production in the lungs and airways. Excess mucussecretions that obstruct respiratory airways and interfere with theability of the individual to breathe must be cleared and expelled toprevent pneumonia, particularly following a surgical procedure. A commonrespiratory therapy for assisting an individual to loosen mucussecretions is known as Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP). PEP is anairway clearance technique exercise that utilizes breathing resistanceto generate positive pressure in the lungs and open airways. Thepositive pressure allows air to flow below the areas of mucusobstruction and move the obstructions from the smaller airways to thelarger airways where the excess mucus can be expelled when theindividual coughs. PEP therapy can also be used to promote deeperdeposition of aerosol medication deeper into the lungs when combinedwith nebulized bronchodilator therapy. Additionally, PEP devices arebeneficial to immobilized patients by providing means to exercise lungfunction and promote bronchial health.

A common PEP device, known as a PEP valve, has a mouthpiece that allowsthe user to draw air into the lungs through a one-way valve andsubsequently blow the air out through a restricted channel, such as asmall hole. The small hole causes resistance against exhalation thatcreates a positive pressure in the airways of the user, andconsequently, an urge to cough. An enhanced PEP respiratory therapyknown as oscillating PEP, also referred to as “flutter”, utilizes apipe-like device including a mouthpiece and an interior cone thatcradles a steel ball sealed within a perforated cover. To perform theexercise, the user breathes in through the nose and exhales through themouthpiece. As the user exhales, the ball oscillates within the sealedcone and the oscillations are transmitted throughout the user's airwaysto loosen and mobilize mucus obstructions during exhalations.

Another device, known in the art as an Acapella valve, combines PEPtherapy with high frequency oscillation therapy. The Acapella valveincludes a housing containing a lever having a magnet at one end. Airexhaled from the lungs of the user creates airflow through the Acapellavalve that causes the lever to move back and forth inside the device.The device further includes magnetic means for adjustably varying theamount of resistance against exhalation, and consequently, the numberand magnitude (i.e., frequency and amplitude) of the back and forthmovements of the lever.

Yet another enhanced PEP respiratory therapy device is disclosed in U.S.Pat. No. 6,581,598 issued to Foran et al. and assigned to DHD HealthcareCorporation of Wampsville, New York, USA. The Foran et al. enhanced PEPrespiratory device provides a variable frequency and variable magnitudepositive pressure in the lungs and airways of the user utilizing anon-linear orifice for adjusting and maintaining a desired positiveexpiratory pressure oscillation according to a predetermined range ofthe pressure of the expiratory air exhaled by the user. The deviceincludes a rocker assembly and a pivotal magnet support coupled to anadjustable orifice support that form a mechanism by which the dischargeof expiratory air by the user is periodically interrupted to create apulsating wave form. The frequency and magnitude of the pulsating waveform can be adjusted within the limits of the oscillating positiveexpiratory pressure therapy prescribed for the user.

The aforementioned PEP respiratory therapy devices, and in particularthe existing devices for oscillating PEP therapy, are relatively complexin construction bulky, and oftentimes difficult to use, especially whenbeing used to perform exercises to prevent pneumonia. As a result, theknown devices are typically costly, cumbersome and prone to mechanicalfailure and misuse. It is apparent a need exists for an improvedrespiratory therapy device. A more particular need exists for animproved PEP module configured for use with oscillating positiveexpiratory pressure therapy. A still further need exists for anoscillating PEP therapy module of relatively simple construction that iseconomical, easy to use and less susceptible to mechanical failure andmisuse.

In view of the problems, drawbacks, deficiencies and disadvantagesassociated with the existing PEP devices, the present invention wasconceived and one of its objectives is to provide an improved PEP modulefor respiratory therapy or to perform exercises to prevent pneumonia.

It is another objective of the present invention to provide an improvedPEP module configured for use with oscillating positive expiratorypressure therapy.

It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide anoscillating PEP module of relatively simple construction that iseconomical, easy to use and less susceptible to mechanical failure andmisuse.

It is a further objective of the present invention to provide anoscillating PEP module for producing and transmitting oscillations ofexpiratory air to the lungs and airways of a user to loosen and mobilizemucus obstructions.

Various other objectives and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art as a more detaileddescription of exemplary embodiments of the invention is set forthbelow.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aforementioned, as well as other objectives not expressly set forth,are realized by providing an oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure(PEP) module constructed according to the present invention, as shownand described by the exemplary embodiments disclosed herein. In oneembodiment, the present invention provides a PEP module including asubstantially hollow device housing having a mouthpiece at a first endthereof and a cover at an opposite second end thereof. The PEP devicefurther includes a valve assembly configured to be disposed within thedevice housing medially between the mouthpiece and the cover. The valveassembly includes a valve housing and a flapper valve movably orrotatably mounted on the valve housing. The valve is operable forproducing oscillations in the airflow of expiratory air exhaled by auser. The oscillations in the airflow of the expiratory air produced bythe valve are transmitted to the lungs and airways of the user toenhance the process of loosening and mobilizing mucus obstructions inthe lungs and airways. The mouthpiece is configured to receive theexpiratory air exhaled by the user and the cover is configured toprovide resistance to the airflow of the expiratory air and therebygenerate a positive pressure in the lungs and airways of the user. Thevalve housing of the valve assembly defines a passageway for directingthe airflow of the expiratory air exhaled by the user from themouthpiece towards the cover. The valve is movable relative to the valvehousing into and out of the airflow of the expiratory air directed bythe passageway of the valve housing towards the cover. The airflow ofthe expiratory air directed by the passageway of the valve housingcauses the valve to oscillate by virtue of the Venturi effect. TheVenturi effect (generally described by the equation P₁−P₂=^(P)/₂(v² ₂−v²₁) where P is the density of the fluid, v₁ is the slower fluid velocitywhere the pipe is wider, and v₂ is the faster velocity where the pipe isnarrower) is the phenomenon that occurs when a fluid (liquid or gas)flowing through a pipe is forced through a narrow section, resulting ina pressure decrease and a velocity increase which is mathematicallydescribed by the Bernoulli principle (generally described by theequation v²/₂+gz+^(p)/

=constant where v is the fluid flow at a point in the fluid stream, g isthe acceleration due to gravity, z is the elevation of the point above areference plane, p is the pressure at a chosen point, and

is the density of the fluid at all points in the field.

In another embodiment, the present invention provides an oscillating PEPmodule for producing oscillations in expiratory air exhaled by a userand transmitting the oscillations to the lungs and airways of the user.The oscillating PEP module includes a generally hollow external devicehousing that has a mouthpiece at a first end thereof configured forreceiving the expiratory air exhaled by the user and a cover at anopposite second end thereof configured for restricting the airflow ofthe expiratory air through the device housing and thereby generating apositive pressure in the lungs and airways of the user. The oscillatingPEP module further includes a valve assembly contained within theexternal device housing and disposed medially between the mouthpiece andthe cover. The valve assembly includes a valve housing defining apassageway therethrough for directing the expiratory air from themouthpiece towards the cover, and a valve movably mounted on the valvehousing and configured for repeated movement into and out of the airflowof the expiratory air. The valve is movable relative to the valvehousing between a first position that is substantially out of theairflow of the expiratory air and a second position that issubstantially in the airflow of the expiratory air. The airflow of theexpiratory air directed by the passageway of the valve housing causesthe valve to oscillate into and out of the airflow of the expiratory airby Bernoulli's principle. The repeated movement of the valve into andout of the airflow of the expiratory air produces oscillations in theexpiratory air that are transmitted to the lungs and airways of the userby the positive pressure generated by the device to thereby loosen andmobilize mucus obstructions in the lungs and airways of the user.

In yet another embodiment, the present invention provides a method forproducing oscillations of expiratory air exhaled by a user to the lungsand airways of the user. The method includes providing an oscillatingPositive Expiratory Pressure (PEP) module including an external devicehousing having a mouthpiece at a first end thereof configured forreceiving the expiratory air exhaled by the user and a cover at anopposite second end thereof for providing resistance to the airflow ofthe expiratory air through the device housing. The method furtherincludes providing a valve assembly configured for being containedwithin the device housing and disposed medially between the mouthpieceand the cover. The valve assembly includes a valve housing defining apassageway for directing the airflow of the expiratory air from themouthpiece towards the cover and a valve movably mounted on the valvehousing above the passageway and configured for oscillating movementrelative to the valve housing into and out of the airflow of theexpiratory air through the passageway. The method further includes theuser exhaling the expiratory air into the mouthpiece of the devicehousing such that the resistance to the airflow of the expiratory airprovided by the cover generates a positive pressure in the lungs andairways of the user and causes the valve to produce oscillations in theairflow of the expiratory air that are transmitted to the lungs andairways of the user to loosen and mobilize mucus obstructions. Theairflow of the expiratory air directed by the passageway defined by thevalve housing causes the valve to oscillate into and out of the airflowof the expiratory air by Bernoulli's principle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The aforementioned aspects, objects, features, advantages andembodiments of the present invention will be more fully understood andappreciated when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawingfigures, in which like reference characters designate the same orsimilar parts throughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing an exemplary embodimentof an oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP) module constructedaccording to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevated side view showing the valve assembly of theoscillating PEP module of FIG. 1, the opposite side view being reverse,but substantially identical to the elevation view shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the valve assembly shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the valve assembly shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is an elevated end view of the valve assembly shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is an opposing elevated end view of the valve assembly shown inFIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 in FIG. 2 showingthe oscillating valve of the valve assembly in greater detail.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

For a better understanding of the present invention and its operation,turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodimentof an oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP) module, indicatedgenerally by reference character 10, constructed according to thepresent invention. Oscillating (also referred to as “flapper”) PEPmodule 10 is an enhanced respiratory therapy device for individuals thatsuffer from pulmonary afflictions, such as Cystic Fibrosis (CF) andChronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Oscillating PEP module 10may also be utilized as an exercise to prevent pneumonia, for example inpost-surgery patients and the elderly. Enhanced PEP transmits positivepressure oscillations produced by an oscillating PEP module throughoutthe user's airways, specifically the cilia lining the airway, to loosenand mobilize mucus obstructions during resistance generated by thedevice against expiratory air exhalations. Various structures andtechniques are known for varying the magnitude and the frequency of thepositive pressure oscillations transmitted to the lungs and airways ofthe user while exhaling expiratory air.

As shown in the embodiment of FIG. 1, the oscillating PEP module 10comprises an external device housing 20 configured for containing anoscillating valve assembly 30 disposed within the device housing,preferably but without limitation located medially between a mouthpiece22 and a cover 24. Device housing 20 is substantially hollow forcontaining the valve assembly 30 and thus, as shown herein, ispreferably elongated and generally rectangular. However, device housing20 may have any desired size and shape suitable for being comfortablyheld and manipulated by a user, particularly with a single hand. Ifdesired, the components of the PEP module 10, including the mouthpiece22, the cover 24 and the valve assembly 30, are made of a lightweightand relatively inexpensive material, such as molded plastic, for examplepolypropylene or polyethylene. Regardless, the mouthpiece 22 has aportion (not shown) configured for being engaged by the mouth of theuser in a manner that allows the user to comfortably exhale expiratoryair into the substantially hollow device housing 20 and subsequentlythrough the valve assembly 30 to the cover 24. Cover 24 is provided withone or more apertures, openings or the like 26, configured for allowingthe expiratory air exhaled by the user to be discharged into the ambientatmosphere. In the exemplary embodiment of the device housing 20illustrated herein, openings 26 are configured as a plurality ofgenerally parallel slots. If desired, mouthpiece 22 and cover 24 may besealed around the valve assembly 30. In a preferred embodiment, however,at least one of the mouthpiece 22 and the cover 24 is removably affixedto the valve assembly 30 so that the valve assembly may be accessedand/or removed for cleaning and/or replacement. An alternate embodimentof PEP device 10 may further include a top positioned proximate valveassembly 30 with a downward depending finger (not shown) configured forselective engagement with valve 40 during use. It would be understoodthat such an accessory may be used to frictionally vary the rotation ofvalve 40 during use, permitting greater flexibility in the frequency andamplitude of the oscillations experienced by the user, for example forusers that had variable expiratory capacities such as the very young orthe infirm. Embodiments of the finger may be flat and straight across,may define a slope from one end to the other, or may define an arcuateface.

FIGS. 2-6 show elevated side, top, bottom, and end views of theoscillating valve assembly 30. FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken fromFIG. 2 showing the valve assembly 30 in greater detail. The oscillatingvalve assembly 30 comprises a valve housing 32 defining passageway 34therethrough and a valve 40 movably disposed overtop passageway 34 onthe valve housing 32. Valve 40 is shaped generally as an “H” shapehaving a lower portion open such that the lower legs straddle passageway34 and the opposing upper portion is closed off or solid between theupper legs creating a “sail”. The legs 44, 44′ (FIGS. 4 and 7) of valve40 as seen in FIG. 2 are triangular in shape and as understood are inopposing, parallel position with a central horizontal ledge 45 (FIGS. 3and 7) angularly disposed therebetween which complements the outermostangular portion formed by wall(s) 35 of passageway 34 when positionedthereabove. As shown herein, the valve housing 32 is generallyrectangular and configured (i.e., sized and shaped) to be receivedwithin the device housing 20 of the oscillating PEP device 10. Valvehousing 32 defines an open channel or passageway 34 (FIG. 1) defined bysurrounding wall(s) 35 for communicating the expiratory air exhaled bythe user into the mouthpiece 22 of the oscillating PEP device 10 throughthe valve assembly 30 to the cover 24. As would be understoodsurrounding wall(s) 35 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 creates rectangularpassageway 34 however could be formed to take any size or shape such assquare, circular or otherwise so long as it limits or narrows thepathway of expiratory air passing through mouthpiece 22, valve assembly30 and cover 24. The remainder of valve housing 32 is essentially closedor solid to restrict the passage of expiratory air through passageway34. Valve housing 32 is further provided with at least one aperture,opening, recess or the like 36 configured (i.e., sized and shaped) toreceive a corresponding post, peg, protrusion 42 or the like defined onan exterior surface of valve 40, as will be described in greater detailhereafter. Valve housing 32 may further comprise a ledge, ridge, rib 38or the like that extends radially outwardly from the valve housing tolocate and seat the mouthpiece 22 on one end of the valve housing, andto likewise locate and seat the cover 24 on the other opposite end ofthe valve housing, creating a seal and preventing any leakage ofexpiratory air. If desired, the mouthpiece 22 and the cover 24 mayengage an exterior surface of the valve housing 32 in an interferencefit, such that at least one of the mouthpiece and the cover is removablefrom the valve housing to thereby provide access to the valve housingfor cleaning, removal and/or replacement. An alternate embodiment of PEPdevice 10 may include an attachment member such as a gasket (not shown)to further solidify one or more connections between mouthpiece 22, cover24, and valve housing 32.

Valve 40 is movably, and preferably rotatably, disposed on the valvehousing 32. In the embodiment shown and described herein, valve 40 ismounted on the valve housing 32 for pivoting movement indicated by thecurved, double-headed arrow in FIG. 2. More particularly, valve 40 isoperable for movement into and out of the airflow of the expiratory airdirected through the passageway 34 defined by the valve housing 32between respectively the position of the valve shown primarily in brokenline and the position of the valve shown in solid line. As previouslymentioned, valve housing 32 has at least one opening, recess 36 or thelike formed therein for receiving a corresponding peg, post, protrusion42 or the like formed on the valve 40 in pivoting relationship.Preferably, valve housing 32 has a pair of opposite openings 36 andvalve 40 has a corresponding pair of opposite posts 42 configured to berelatively loosely received within the openings, such that the valvepivots freely between the two extreme positions illustrated in FIG. 2.It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that the valvehousing 32 could be provided with at least one suitable peg, post,protrusion or the like and the valve 40 could be provided with at leastone opening, recess or the like in a similar manner to achieve the sameresult. For purposes of the present disclosure, any combination and/orarrangement of structure that permits movement of the valve 40 relativeto the valve housing 32 into and out of the airflow in the mannerdescribed herein is intended to be encompassed by suitable embodimentsof an oscillating PEP module 10 according to the invention.

It should be noted that valve 40 is limited in pivoting movement betweenthe extreme positions illustrated in FIG. 2. By way of example only andnot limitation, valve housing 32 may be provided with seat(s) 33configured for limiting the travel of the valve 40 in the direction awayfrom passageway 34. Similarly, valve 40 may have an opening, notch, orrecess formed therein defining a generally hollow cavity or interior 43(FIGS. 2 and 7) above the central horizontal ledge of valve 40 that isconfigured to overlay the passageway 34 of the valve housing 32 when thevalve is aligned with the passageway. As a result, valve 40 frictionalengages the bottom of the angled exterior structure of the passageway 34by virtue of their complementary (meaning that the sum of theirrespective angles equals one hundred eighty degrees)(180°) angularcross-sections to limit the travel of the valve in the direction of thepassageway. While the respective angles may vary, an embodiment of valve40 defines an angle greater than ninety degrees (90°) with a housing 32defining an angle less than ninety degrees (90°) relative to a verticalaxis. A more preferred embodiment includes valve 40 that defines anangle greater than one hundred degrees (100°) and housing 32 defines anangle less than eighty degrees (80°), respectively. In the position ofthe valve 40 indicated in FIG. 2 by solid lines (also as shown in FIG.1), at least a portion of the passageway 34 of the valve housing 32 isopen as also seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 to deliver expiratory air exhaled bythe user to the cover 24 of the external housing 20 of the module 10.With respect to the complementary angles defined by valve 40 andpassageway 34, the nature of the angles maintains the respectivecomponent surfaces in close proximity throughout a portion of thepivoting action of valve 40 during use. In an alternate embodiment, thedistance between valve 40 and passageway is within the range of aquarter to three millimeters (0.25-3.0 mm), and preferably is less thanone and a half millimeters (1.5 mm) for about the first forty-fivedegrees (45°) of rotation of the “flapping” of valve 40, at which pointvalve 40 clears the beveled top edge of the passageway.

In operation, a user holds the oscillating PEP module 10 at acomfortable location and positions his or her lips around an inletmember in direct or indirect fluid communication with the mouthpiece 22of the device housing 20 with the PEP device directed outwardly awayfrom the his or her mouth, or through an accessory tube piece (notshown) attached to the mouthpiece 22. The user inhales ambient airthrough his or her nose, or alternatively, through his or her moutharound the mouthpiece 22 of the device housing 20. The user then exhalesexpiratory air (i.e., air from the user's lungs and airways) through themouthpiece 22 of the device housing 20 of the PEP device 10. The cover24 operates to restrict the flow of the expiratory air out of the devicehousing 20 through the one or more constricting openings 26 formed inthe cover. As a result, the user experiences rhythmic resistance to theexhalation of the expiratory air, and consequently, a correspondingpositive pressure in his or her lungs and airways by virtue of themotion of valve 30. The positive pressure in the user's lungs andairways loosens and mobilizes mucus obstructions from the lungs andsmaller airways and moves the mucus obstructions to the larger airwaysfrom where they can be subsequently coughed out by the user.

Operation of the oscillating PEP device 10 is enhanced by the valveassembly 30 disposed within the device housing 20, and moreparticularly, by the valve 40 movably and pivotably mounted on the valvehousing 32 of the valve assembly. In one embodiment, the expiratory airexhaled by the user is directed through the passageway 34 defined by thevalve housing 32, rotatably displacing the movable valve 40. The flow ofexpiratory air over the surface of valve 40 creates a lifting force,which causes the valve to move from a first position indicated in FIG. 2by the broken lines towards a second position indicated in FIG. 2 by thesolid lines. The force necessary to displace valve 40 is relativelylight compared to the prior art, allowing valve 40 to move freely intoand out of the air stream as described, even if used by children or theelderly. As the valve 40 moves towards the second position over thepassageway 34 defined by the valve housing 32, the expiratory airpassing beneath valve 40 creates a lower pressure than the ambient airabove valve 40, commonly referred to as a Venturi effect and Bernoulliprinciple, and is pulled thereby towards the first position. The processrepeats rapidly and continuously as the user exhales the expiratory airthrough the device housing 20 of the PEP device 10. As a result, thevalve 40 oscillates back and forth during exhalations of the expiratoryair. More particularly, the valve 40 moves rapidly and repeatedly intoand out of the airflow of the expiratory air being exhaled through thePEP module 10 by the user. The oscillations of the valve 40 produceoscillations in the airflow of the expiratory air that are transmittedback to the user's lungs and airways via the cyclical positive pressuregenerated by the PEP module 10. An embodiment of PEP module 10 has beentested and recorded to produce in excess of ten centimeters (10 cm) ofwater (H2O) of positive end exhalation pressure (PEEP), and has beenobserved to produce as much as twelve centimeters (12 cm) of water (H2O)of PEEP as a maximum, far in excess of the three to four centimeters(3-4 cm) of water (H2O) PEEP observed by prior art devices. Theoscillations in the positive pressure transmitted to the lungs enhancesthe process of loosening and mobilizing mucus obstructions without therequirement of an enclosed and/or pressured module environment, andthereby increase the effectiveness of the respiratory therapy exerciseprovided by the oscillating PEP module 10.

It should be noted that the magnitude and frequency of the oscillationsof the valve 40 may be adjusted as desired in various ways, in additionto the embodiment of PEP module 10 including a top as previouslydescribed. In one embodiment, the valve 40 may be biased in thedirection of the first position, such as by a torsional spring havingone end in engagement with the valve housing 32 and the other oppositeend in engagement with the valve. In this manner, the intensity of theoscillations of the valve 40 would be increased, while the frequency ofthe oscillations of the valve would be reduced. In another embodiment,the size of the interior of the valve 40 may be increased relative tothe size of the passageway 34 defined by the valve housing 32 to reducethe number of back-and-forth movements of the valve into and out of theairflow for a given volume of expiratory air exhaled by the user. In yetanother embodiment, the extent of the travel between the first andsecond positions of the valve 40 (i.e. the range of motion of the valve)may be increased to reduce the frequency of the oscillations of thevalve, or conversely, may be reduced to increase the frequency of theoscillations of the valve. Regardless, it is intended that all suchmodifications to the valve 40 and/or the valve housing 32 of the valveassembly 30, as well as others that will be readily apparent to thosehaving skill in the art, are considered to be within the scope of thepresent invention.

It should be noted and will be readily apparent to and understood andappreciated by those skilled in the art that the drawings, figures,illustrations and examples provided herein are for explanatory purposesonly and are not intended to limit the scope of the following appendedclaims.

I claim:
 1. A Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP) module comprising: anairflow passageway formed from a device housing and a valve housing, theairflow passageway having a first end and an opposing second end; and avalve assembly configured to be disposed between the first and secondairflow passageway ends, the valve assembly comprising the valve housingand a valve movably mounted on the valve housing, the valve defining acentral ledge, the central ledge defining an angle that is complementaryto an angle defined by a wall that forms a terminal portion of theairflow passageway when the valve is positioned in a first position,whereby the valve is operable for producing oscillations in an airflow,whereby the valve is configured to pivot between the first positionsubstantially in the airflow whereby the valve is positioned moreproximal the airflow passageway and oriented complementary thereto, anda second position substantially out of the airflow whereby the valve ispivoted more distal relative to the airflow passageway, and whereby thevalve assumes the first position absent the presence of the airflow. 2.The PEP module according to claim 1, wherein the oscillations in theairflow produced by the valve are transmitted to a lung and airway of auser to enhance a process of loosening and mobilizing mucus obstructionsin the lungs and airways.
 3. The PEP module according to claim 1,wherein the device housing is configured to produce positive pressure ata mouthpiece.
 4. The PEP module according to claim 1 further comprisinga mouthpiece and a cover, wherein the mouthpiece is configured toreceive the expiratory air exhaled by a user and the cover is configuredto release the airflow of the expiratory air and thereby generate apositive pressure in a lung and airway of the user.
 5. The PEP moduleaccording to claim 4, wherein the cover has at least one opening formedtherethrough.
 6. The PEP module according to claim 4, wherein the valveoscillates repeatedly between the first position and the secondposition.
 7. The PEP module according to claim 6, wherein the airflow ofthe expiratory air directed by the airflow passageway of the valvehousing causes the valve to oscillate via a Venturi effect andBernoulli's principle.
 8. The PEP module according to claim 1, whereinthe airflow of the expiratory air directed by the airflow passageway ofthe valve housing causes the valve to oscillate via a Venturi effect andBernoulli's principle.
 9. The PEP module according to claim 1, whereinthe valve defines a generally hollow interior that is aligned with theairflow passageway of the valve housing in the second position.
 10. ThePEP module according to claim 1, wherein the valve housing comprises aradially outwardly extending rib for locating and seating at least oneof the mouthpiece and the cover on the valve assembly.
 11. The PEPmodule according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the mouthpiece, thecover and the valve assembly is made of a plastic material.
 12. A methodfor producing oscillations of expiratory air exhaled by a user to thelungs and airways of the user, the method comprising: providing the PEPmodule of claim 1; and the user exhaling the expiratory air into amouthpiece of the device housing such that the resistance to the airflowof the expiratory air provided by a cover generates a positive pressurein the lungs and airways of the user and causes the valve to produceoscillations in the airflow of the expiratory air that are transmittedto the lungs and airways of the user to loosen and mobilize mucusobstructions.
 13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the valve ispivotally mounted on the valve housing via a pair of opposingly orientedlegs and wherein the oscillations in the airflow of the expiratory airare produced by pivoting movement of the valve into and out of theairflow of expiratory air directed by the airflow passageway defined bythe valve housing.
 14. The method according to claim 13, wherein theairflow of the expiratory air directed by the airflow passageway definedby the valve housing causes the valve to oscillate into and out of theairflow of the expiratory air by a Venturi effect and Bernoulli'sprinciple.
 15. The method according to claim 12 further comprising anannular rib extending radially outwards from the valve housing, whereinthe annular rib is operable to seat the mouthpiece on an end of thevalve housing, and wherein the annular rib is operable to seat the coveron an opposing end of the valve housing relative to the mouthpiece. 16.An oscillating Positive Expiratory Pressure (PEP) module for producingoscillations in expiratory air exhaled by a user and transmitting theoscillations to the lungs and airways of the user, the oscillating PEPmodule comprising: a generally hollow external device housing, thedevice housing comprising: a mouthpiece at a first end thereofconfigured for receiving the expiratory air; and a cover at an oppositesecond end thereof configured for restrictively releasing the airflow ofthe expiratory air through a device housing airflow passagewaygenerating a positive pressure in the lungs and airways of the user; anda valve assembly contained within the external device housing anddisposed medially between the mouthpiece and the cover, the valveassembly comprising: a valve housing defining a valve housing airflowpassageway therethrough for directing the expiratory air from themouthpiece towards the cover, the valve housing airflow passageway influidic communication with the device housing airway passageway; and avalve movably mounted on the valve housing and configured for repeatedmovement into and out of the airflow of the expiratory air, the valvedefining a central ledge, the central ledge defining an anglecomplementary to an angle defined by a wall that forms a terminalportion of the airflow passageway of the valve housing, whereby thevalve is configured to pivot between a first position substantially inthe airflow of expiratory air whereby the valve is positioned moreproximal the valve housing airflow passageway and oriented complementarythereto, and a second position substantially out of the airflow ofexpiratory air whereby the valve is pivoted more distal relative to thevalve housing airflow passageway, and whereby the valve assumes thefirst position absent the presence of the expiratory airflow.
 17. Theoscillating PEP module according to claim 16, wherein the airflow of theexpiratory air directed by the airflow passageway of the valve housingcauses the valve to oscillate into and out of the airflow of theexpiratory air via a Venturi effect and Bernoulli's principle.
 18. Theoscillating PEP module according to claim 16, wherein the repeatedmovement of the valve into and out of the airflow of the expiratory airproduces oscillations in the expiratory air that are transmitted to thelungs and airways of the user by the positive pressure generated by themodule to thereby loosen and mobilize mucus obstructions in the lungsand airways of the user.